HMNB Faslane, Helensburgh
Oil Water Removal Facility

Completed – February 2010

Protection of the environment was an important design consideration for the new Valiant Jetty constructed at HMNB Faslane to service the new RN Astute Class nuclear-propelled submarines. B+W were employed to design and construct a facility to prevent the accidental discharge of oil/fuel spillage in to the surrounding Clyde estuary.

Run-off water from the jetty surface are contained and collected in one of two equalisation tanks serving the left and right sides of the structure. The collected water is processed using a three-stage oil water separator consisting a skimmer, plate pack and final coalescing filter. Clarified water exiting the separator unit is discharge to the estuary whilst the removed oil is retained and recovered.

The separation system guarantees that no spillages are discharged thereby protecting the colonies of sea birds and waders that inhabit the surrounding estuary.